BIOGENESIS OF PHAGOLYSOSOMES - THE KISS AND RUN HYPOTHESIS

Particles such as microorganisms that are taken up by the cell into ph agosomes are usually ultimately degraded in phagolysosomes. However, d espite its importance, phagolysosome biogenesis is poorly understood. This article presents a model for phagosome maturation into phagolysos omes that involves multiple transient fusion-fission interactions of p hagosomes with endocytic organelles via a fusion-pore-like structure. This dynamic process may be modulated by the sequential appearance and disappearance of key phagosome proteins.